Daughter of woman killed by partner: 'I'm not being a victim of this story'

Keeley McKee, who was three when her mother died, speaks out on the lasting trauma domestic abuse inflicts on children left behind

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Keeley McKee, who was three years old when her mother was killed by her partner, is speaking out about the damage caused by domestic abuse, saying she refuses to be "a victim of this story" and wants greater recognition of the impact on children and families left behind.

Keeley McKee was three years old when her mother, Leanne McKee, was killed by her partner in March 2003, weeks before the couple were due to marry. Her mother's partner then took his own life. Ms McKee, who was staying with her grandmother that night, was kept from the full circumstances of her mother's death as she grew up.

She told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that as a young child her mother would tell her to hide in a bedroom and not come out until called, and that she believes the partner her mother was frightened of had tried to get in.

At 18, Ms McKee found a news report online about her mother's death. "I had an idea but I think I was in denial. I didn't want to believe it and I didn't want to face it," she said. "I read it in the most brutal way you could probably read something like that. I think from that time then, I just ran away from grieving."

She described feeling angry and confused, withdrawing from friends and family, experiencing suicidal thoughts and attempting to take her own life on multiple occasions. She also struggled with drug and alcohol misuse, and said the consequences of her mother's murder shaped how she viewed love and relationships. "I was scared to fully love in case that was taken from me again," she added.

Ms McKee credits a Christian discipleship programme with helping her confront the past. "It gave me the fuel, it gave me the fight to say: 'I'm not being a victim of this anymore. My mum was a victim. I'm not being a victim of this story. I am going to do something about it'," she said.

She said she believes violence has become normalised in society and wants greater recognition of the lasting impact domestic abuse has on the children and families left behind. She hopes her story will encourage people experiencing abuse to seek help and consider the example they set their children. "It's just going to go from generation to generation," she said.

Ms McKee was brought up by her great-aunt and great-uncle, who took her into their home while grieving for Leanne themselves. She said their support helped her through some of the most difficult periods of her life.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Keeley McKee's account highlights the long-term trauma domestic abuse inflicts on children who lose a parent, a dimension often overshadowed by the immediate crime.
Her public testimony adds a survivor's voice to calls for greater recognition of how domestic violence affects families left behind.
The story carries a direct warning about the generational cycle of abuse, urging parents to consider what children witness as normal.

Background

Domestic abuse is widely recognised as a pattern of controlling behaviour that can escalate to homicide. Children who grow up in homes where a parent is abused often carry emotional and psychological effects into adulthood, including anxiety, depression and difficulty forming trusting relationships. In Northern Ireland, violence against women and domestic abuse have been recurring public concerns, with campaigners pressing for stronger prevention and support services.

Key Perspectives

Keeley McKee: She is determined not to be defined as a victim. She wants her experience to show the long-term damage done to children and families, and to push people experiencing abuse to seek help and think about the example they set their children.

Families affected by domestic abuse: Ms McKee's account reflects a wider experience of children who lose a parent to violence and are left to grieve while piecing together what happened, sometimes years later.

Critics/Skeptics: Her story carries no conflicting claims, but some may question whether personal testimony alone leads to change without broader policy action on domestic abuse prevention and support for bereaved children, a gap Ms McKee herself points to when she says more needs to be done.

What to Watch

Whether Ms McKee's story prompts wider public discussion in Northern Ireland about support for children affected by domestic homicide.
Whether political or community leaders respond with concrete commitments on domestic abuse prevention and services for bereaved children.
Whether other survivors or family members come forward with similar accounts, sustaining pressure for change.

Sources

Daughter of woman killed by partner 'refuses to be another victim' · BBC Northern Ireland
Daughter of woman killed by partner 'refuses to be another victim' · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe headline quotes Keeley McKee saying, “I'm not being a victim of this story.”BBC Northern Ireland: ““I’m not being a victim of this story. I am going to do something about it,” she said.”
Partly supportedThe summary says domestic abuse inflicts lasting trauma on children left behind.BBC Northern Ireland: “She said she also wants greater recognition of the lasting impact domestic abuse has on the children and families left behind, saying they can be left struggling with trauma.”
SupportedKeeley is speaking out about damage caused by domestic abuse and wants greater recognition of its impact on children and families left behind.BBC Northern Ireland: “A woman who was three years old when her mother was killed by her partner is speaking out about the damage caused by domestic abuse. Keeley McKee only learned the full details of her mum Leanne’s murder when she turned 18.”
SupportedKeeley was three years old when her mother was killed by her partner.BBC Northern Ireland: “A woman who was three years old when her mother was killed by her partner is speaking out about the damage caused by domestic abuse.”
SupportedLeanne McKee was killed by her partner in March 2003, weeks before they were due to marry.BBC Northern Ireland: “Leanne McKee was killed by her partner in March 2003, weeks before the couple were due to marry.”
SupportedLeanne’s partner took his own life after killing her.BBC Northern Ireland: “He then took his own life.”
SupportedKeeley’s family kept her from the full circumstances of her mother’s death as she grew up.BBC Northern Ireland: “Her family protected her from the full circumstances of her mother’s death as she grew up.”
SupportedAs a young child, Keeley’s mother told her to hide in a bedroom and not come out until called; Keeley believed the partner her mother feared had tried to get in.BBC Northern Ireland: “As a young child, Keeley remembers her mother telling her to hide in a bedroom and not come out until she was called. “There was someone trying to get in, and I believe it was that partner that she was frightened of,” Keeley told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.”
SupportedAt 18, Keeley found a news report online about her mother’s death.BBC Northern Ireland: “At 18, she found a news report online about her mother’s death and confronted what had happened.”
SupportedKeeley said she had suspected the truth but was in denial and did not want to face it.BBC Northern Ireland: ““I had an idea but I think I was in denial. I didn’t want to believe it and I didn’t want to face it.””
SupportedKeeley experienced suicidal thoughts and attempted to take her own life multiple times.BBC Northern Ireland: “She said her mental health deteriorated, she withdrew from friends and family, experienced suicidal thoughts and attempted to take her own life on multiple occasions.”
SupportedKeeley credits a Christian discipleship programme with helping her confront the past.BBC Northern Ireland: “Keeley credits her faith with helping her confront the past after taking part in a Christian discipleship programme.”

Correction

22 October 2026An earlier version of this story presented a paraphrase as a direct quote from Keeley McKee in the headline. Her words were: "I'm not being a victim of this story."